England call on Flood to replace injured Noon

England have summoned Newcastle back Toby Flood to join their World Cup squad.

Flood is due to arrive at the team's base in Versailles later today as replacement for his Falcons colleague Jamie Noon.

Noon suffered a knee ligament injury during England's 36-0 World Cup record defeat against South Africa last Friday, and he will now head home.

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Noon is expected to be out of action for around six weeks, and Flood - an effective operator at fly-half and centre - was the obvious choice to take over.

Flood, 22, produced a man-of-the-match display in Newcastle's Guinness Premiership victory over Sale Sharks yesterday. He also provides England head coach Brian Ashton with another goal-kicking option.

Flood was desperately unlucky to miss out on Ashton's original 30-man World Cup squad, especially after producing an outstanding RBS 6 Nations display against France at Twickenham last season.

And Flood's presence would also help alleviate any further fly-half problems given that Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley both missed the South Africa game due to injuries.

Both Wilkinson and Barkley though, are on course to regain full fitness in time for next Saturday's crucial Pool A clash against Samoa in Nantes.

Ashton has also put Sale prop Stuart Turner on temporary standby, should anything happen this week to England's three available props - Matt Stevens, Andrew Sheridan and Perry Freshwater.

England captain Phil Vickery is still banned for the Samoa game, and Turner will just act as cover if any further front-row issues arise.